Student Councillor Training 2011-12. Learning Objectives/Agenda Introduction & People Bingo The...
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Transcript of Student Councillor Training 2011-12. Learning Objectives/Agenda Introduction & People Bingo The...
Student Councillor Training 2011-12
Learning Objectives/Agenda
• Introduction & People Bingo• The Purpose of Student Council: What It’s For• Who are the Student Councillors?• The Structure of Student Council: How It Works• Communicating with your Constituents • Introduction to Writing and Understanding Motions• BREAK!• Mock Council session• Your Duties as a Student Councillor• Student Council Charter Revisited
People Bingo!
There IS a Prize!
The Purpose of Student Council: What it’s for
[From Bye-Law 2]• Student Council is established by these Bye-laws to fulfil the following
purposes.• 1.1. To receive and consider reports from the Trustees, Student Community
Forums, Scrutiny Committees and Action Committees/Groups;• 1.2. To make recommendations to the Trustees of NSU; The Trustees may
only refuse to adopt Council recommendations on financial grounds, charity and education law or other legal requirement.
• 1.3. To make motions of no-confidence in one or a number of Trustees;• 1.4. To review and scrutinise the decisions and actions of the Trustees of
NSU;• 1.5. To discuss, debate and decide on issues pertinent to students;• 1.6 To make campaigning, representation and political policy as
appropriate;
The Purpose of Student Council: What it’s for
Cont…• 1.7. To convene Student Community Forums, consider its reports and
agree actions required;• 1.8. To appoint and convene Scrutiny Committees and to determine their
remit and membership;• 1.9. To convene other committees, meetings and groups so as to carry
forward the mandate of Council and turn this into action to have a positive impact on student lives;
• 1.10. To consider and approve the appointment and re-appointment of Non-Student Trustees
• 1.11 To consider and approve the appointment and re-appointment of Student Trustees
• 1.12. To admit and remove Associate Members, Reciprocal, Life and Honorary Life Members of the Union.
The Purpose of Student Council: What it’s NOT for
• The day-to-day running of the Union’s services
• Managing the Union’s services and finances
• The strategic direction of the Union as a
service provider and charity
The Purpose of Student Council: What it’s for and What it’s NOT forWhich of these hypothetical situations would be the business of Student
Council, and which would be the business of the Trustee Board?
• Finalising budgets for the Students’ Union’s Membership Services department
• Agreeing the Students’ Union’s stance on the forthcoming review of higher
education funding
• Questioning the appointment of a trustee based on his/her links with the North
Korean arms industry
• Mandating an elected Sabbatical Officer to focus on access issues for
Disabled Students
The Ideal Councillor
What do you think?
Some good qualities.....
• Vocal, but not outspoken
• Listens well
• Communicates with their constituents
• Responsible
• Approachable
• Takes role seriously
• Punctual
• No hidden agenda
Who are the Student Councillors?
35 Student Councillors:
• 5 Sabbatical Officers
President – Jo Rhodes
VP Academic Affairs – Kate Bradshaw
VP Activities and Development – Andrew Cheung
VP Communications and Involvement – Holly Seabrook
VP Welfare and Equality – Hannah Horne
- Elected by cross-campus ballot
Who are the Student Councillors?
Lay Student Councillors x 5:
Alex Lenaghan
Mike Squair
Nicole Pegg
Ashleigh Mitchell
Rob Sharp
- Elected by cross-campus ballot
Who are the Student Councillors?
School Reps x 8:
Arts and Social Sciences – Rob Gowling
Built and Natural Environment – Pippa Summers
Computing, Engineering and Information Sciences – Gregory Newton
Design – Lauren Teague
Health, Community and Education Studies – Paul Heslop
Law – Yunus Akram
Life Sciences – Tanisa James
Newcastle Business School – William Downey
- Nominated from among their peers
Who are the Student Councillors?
• PGT Rep – VACANT
• PGR Rep – Conall Mallory
• Sports Rep – VACANT
• Environmental Rep – Amy Terry
• Halls of Residence Rep – Tilly Smith
• Community Rep – Sam Booth-Malone
- Nominated from among their peers
Who are the Student Councillors?• Black Minority Ethnic Students’ Rep – Bryce Moore
• Disabled Students’ Rep – Matt Dinnery
• European Union Students’ Rep – Sarah Urwin
• International Students’ (non-European) Rep x 2 – Gaurav Jain and Manish
Abraham
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Students’ Rep - VACANT
• Mature Students’ Rep – Jacob Turner
• Part-time Students’ Rep – VACANT
• Student with Caring Responsibilities Rep – Amy Irving
• Women Students’ Rep – Rachel Smith
• Coach Lane Students’ Rep – Sophie Chilton
- Elected by cross-campus ballot
Student Council – Date of meetings
• Thursday 20th October 2011, 5pm, Stage 2
• Monday 14th November 2011, 5pm, Stage 2
• Tuesday 13th December 2011, 5pm, Stage 2
• Wednesday 25th January 2012, 5pm, Stage 2
• Tuesday 21st February 2012, 5pm, Stage 2
• Monday 26th March 2012, 5pm, TBC
• Tuesday 24th April 2012, 5pm, TBC
• Thursday 24th May 2012, 5pm, TBC
The structure of Student Council: How it works
Submitting Policy Motions
• Submit your policy motion to the [email protected] 7
working days before the meeting
• All policy motions must have a proposer and a seconder
• Non-Councillors may submit a policy motion by petition of 50 signatures
from Northumbria students
• Meeting papers are circulated to all Student Councillors electronically
and a paper copy will be available on the day of meetings
The structure of Student Council: How it works
Debating Policy Motions
• Speech in favour – property of the proposer
• If the policy motion is proposed by petition, the non-Councillor proposing the
motion will have full speaking rights
• Speech against – open
• Further speeches for and against are at the Chair’s discretion
• The maximum duration of speeches for and against will be equal, but will be at
the Chair’s discretion
• Maximum 5 minutes of general discussion for each motion
• Summary speech – property of the proposer
The structure of Student Council: How it works
Amending Policy Motions by ‘Taking Parts’
• Following debate and before the summary speech, a Councillor may
propose to ‘take parts’ on a policy motion to remove part of the
text, but not to add to the motion or to change wording in the
text
• The process for ‘taking parts’ is a speech in favour, a speech
against and a summary speech by the proposer of the parts
The structure of Student Council: How it worksThe Voting Process
• Non-Councillors may not vote, even if they have proposed the motion
by petition
• Councillors will have to state in turn out loud their position on the
motion. Personal interests must be declared before voting.
• There are three options: in favour, against and abstain
• How you vote will be recorded in the minutes and is available to
any student to see – so use your vote wisely!
• Policy passed at Student Council remains in place for 3 years unless
further policy is passed to remove it
The structure of Student Council: How it works
Reminders & Apologies
• First call for Student Council papers will be sent 14 working days prior to each
meeting
• Second call for Student Council papers will be sent 10 working days prior to each
meeting
• Deadline for submitting items on the agenda, including motions and written
feedback will be 7 working days prior to each meeting
• If you are unable to attend a meeting, apologies must be sent to the chair and
secretary of Student Council as soon as you know you are unable to attend
The structure of Student Council: How it works
Written Feedback
A motion called ‘Feed the Poly; Let them know what you’ve been doing’ was passed
at council in March 2011. Therefore it is now compulsory for all Student Councillors to
submit written feedback for every meeting.
This Union Resolved 2
“Councillors who fail to submit written feedback to two councils throughout the year
(unless in exceptional circumstances) may be asked to leave Council”
Communicating with your constituents
What issues affect your constituents?
Groups of 4-5 :
• Think about the people you represent
• Who are they?
• What are their interests?
• What changes could you implement for them?
Writing & Understanding Motions
• What is the purpose of your motion?
• How should you structure a motion?
– Background/evidence – what’s the issue?
– Your input/argument – why does this matter?
– Your proposal – what should Council vote to agree to do?
• Example of a good motion
Writing & Understanding Motions
Note structure of motions - usually:
This Union notes…
This Union believes…
This Union resolves…
Some vocabulary for motions:
Instruct Commend
Mandate Lobby
Condemn
Write a motion!
• In groups:
– Select one of the issues for your constituents create a motion from it
– Think about how you would present it at Student Council
Mock Council Session
Your duties as a Student Councillor
• To attend meetings of Student Council, roughly once a month during
term time
• To participate in training sessions for Student Councillors
From time to time you might also be invited to participate in other events
and workshops in your capacity as a Student Councillor – these are
optional
Student Council Charter (Old)
• Respect – safe space
• Action points
• Feedback
• Constructive participation
• No arguing obstructively
• Supportive atmosphere
• Vote is final
• Stick to point
• People not judged
• Time
Agreed at Student Councillor training, February 2008
Student Council Charter (New)
It’s up to you!
Summary & Close
• The Purpose of Student Council: What It’s For
• Who are the Student Councillors?
• The Structure of Student Council: How It Works
• Communicating with your Constituents
• Introduction to Writing and Understanding Motions
• Mock Council session
• Your Duties as a Student Councillor
• Student Council Charter Revisited